For the primary time in a very long time, Justin Thomas sits atop a PGA Tour leaderboard.
He carded an exquisite 8-under 62, a spherical that featured eight birdies and eight pars, to soar to the highest of the Genesis Scottish Open leaderboard after spherical one. Remarkably, Thomas has not held at the least a share of the lead on the finish of a spherical for the reason that 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, the place he defeated Will Zalatoris in an exhilarating playoff. Golf statistician Justin Ray offered this eye-popping stat after Thomas’ spherical.
“It’s all the time good to get off to begin and even higher to get off to an amazing one. I felt like I used to be in nice management of all the things. When I missed it, I missed it in the best spots and had plenty of actually high quality photographs,” Thomas stated Thursday.
“Like any golfer, I’d have cherished to complete these final 5 holes slightly bit higher, however I performed actually, actually strong immediately, and that par putt on 17 was big. I like going bogey-free, in order that was good. I’d have had a distinct style in my mouth strolling off 18.”
Thomas had it going for him, particularly on the entrance 9, the place he made 5 birdies. He made a pleasant three on the par-4 1st, a harbinger of issues to come back, as the previous Alabama star rolled his par-breaker in from 13 ft.
Four consecutive birdies adopted on holes 5 by way of eight, and out of the blue, Thomas discovered himself in the direction of the highest of the leaderboard when he turned to the again 9.
Three extra birdies adopted on the tenth, twelfth, and thirteenth, as Thomas made a 42-foot bomb on the par-3 12th.
“I’m assured once I get in that mode,” Thomas defined.
“Obviously, that is as straightforward as you’re going to get a hyperlinks golf course weather-wise and when it comes to situations. When you drive it properly like I did for essentially the most half, you could have plenty of quick golf equipment, and I see nothing however the pin. You have alternatives to get the ball shut with some slopes, but when I’ve quantity, for essentially the most half, I’m attempting to determine how I can hit it as shut as doable. I’m not scared to take action.”
Thomas hit it shut quite a few instances, as 5 of his eight birdies got here from inside six ft. He was dialed in all day till he hit a borderline shank on the par-5 sixteenth. But he nonetheless managed to two-putt for par, a testomony to how properly he performed Thursday.
The two-time main winner holds a one-shot lead over Sungjae Im going into Friday’s spherical. Whether he can sustain this excessive stage of play stays to be seen, however it will not shock anybody to see him lurk towards the highest of the leaderboard all through the weekend. He has quietly accomplished that loads of instances all through 2024, most lately tying for fifth on the Travelers Championship. But he has but to file a win since Southern Hills, and Thomas is not going to be absolutely glad with himself and his recreation till he snaps this two-year drought.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be certain to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
